Oakland officials boycott vote on A's 10-year coliseum lease

No-shows hold up deal on Coliseum

Carolyn Jones

Updated 5:36 pm, Friday, June 27, 2014

Photo: Jason O. Watson, Getty Images

Image 1of/9

Caption

Close

Image 1 of 9

Play is suspended during the fourth inning between the Oakland Athletics and the New York Yankees because of faulty stadium lights in left field at O.co Coliseum on June 14, 2014 in Oakland, California.

Play is suspended during the fourth inning between the Oakland Athletics and the New York Yankees because of faulty stadium lights in left field at O.co Coliseum on June 14, 2014 in Oakland, California.

Photo: Jason O. Watson, Getty Images

Image 2 of 9

A wide shot of the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum during the World Series on October 1972 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Focus On Sport/Getty Images)

A wide shot of the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum during the World Series on October 1972 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Focus On Sport/Getty Images)

Image 3 of 9

Reggie Jackson of the Oakland Athletics warms up before a game in an undated photo at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum.

Reggie Jackson of the Oakland Athletics warms up before a game in an undated photo at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum.

Image 4 of 9

The Coliseum in 1969: Outfielder Reggie Jackson of the Oakland Athletics sits on top of the dugout signing autographs.

The Coliseum in 1969: Outfielder Reggie Jackson of the Oakland Athletics sits on top of the dugout signing autographs.

Image 5 of 9

Members of the Oakland Raiders offense huddle in the end zone during the game against the Green Bay Packers at the Oakland Alameda Coliseum on October 24, 1976.

Members of the Oakland Raiders offense huddle in the end zone during the game against the Green Bay Packers at the Oakland Alameda Coliseum on October 24, 1976.

Image 6 of 9

Head coach John Madden of the Oakland Raiders watches the action from the sidelines during a game in the early-1970's at Oakland-Alameda County Stadium.

Head coach John Madden of the Oakland Raiders watches the action from the sidelines during a game in the early-1970's at Oakland-Alameda County Stadium.

Image 7 of 9

Fans at O.co Coliseum watch an NFL preseason football game between the Oakland Raiders and the Dallas Cowboys in Oakland, Calif., Monday, Aug. 13, 2012.

Fans at O.co Coliseum watch an NFL preseason football game between the Oakland Raiders and the Dallas Cowboys in Oakland, Calif., Monday, Aug. 13, 2012.

Image 8 of 9

Oakland A's fans bring out the paintings as they celebrate a home run Monday May 27, 2013.

Oakland A's fans bring out the paintings as they celebrate a home run Monday May 27, 2013.

Image 9 of 9

Oakland officials boycott vote on A's 10-year coliseum lease

1 / 9

Back to Gallery

The anticipated vote on a 10-year-lease deal between the Oakland Athletics and the Coliseum authority was canceled Friday when representatives from the city of Oakland failed to show up for the meeting.

Four members of the eight-member Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Authority - which operates O.co Coliseum - apparently boycotted the meeting, sources said. Without their participation, there was no quorum and a vote could not be taken.

Related Stories

"I'm shocked and upset and very disturbed," said authority chair, Alameda County Supervisor Nate Miley, who attended Friday's meeting. "We feel like we're hampered from doing our business because the city has taken this position. At this stage, it's just shocking."

'Still negotiating'

The current lease expires in about 18 months. The authority and the A's began negotiating a 10-year lease months ago.

But Oakland Mayor Jean Quan issued her own statement hours later on Wednesday, saying that no such deal had been struck.

"The A's have been an important part of the Oakland community and an inspiring Oakland team for decades," Quan said. "We are all working to make sure the A's stay here at home in Oakland. The JPA (Joint Powers Authority) has been negotiating with the team for months. As recently as last night, they received a new counteroffer from the team, which we have not yet had opportunity to review in depth. We are still negotiating, so were surprised by the announcement of an agreement. We plan to meet tomorrow, continue negotiations, and hope there will be an agreement soon."

Quan could not be reached for comment Friday. But she issued a statement saying that city officials had repeatedly asked the Coliseum authority to reschedule Friday's meeting.

Miley said that if Oakland officials have a problem with the lease proposal, they should address that when the lease comes before the council.

Anger over boycott

Chris Dobbins, a member of the authority who also attended Friday's meeting, was also upset about the boycott.

"We were prepared to vote this morning, and the city didn't show up. ... Our concern is that Oakland can't get its act together, or a least it's the appearance it can't get its act together," said Dobbins, an Oakland school board member and head of a community group called Save Oakland Sports.

Terms of the proposed lease are not yet public, but Miley said the deal offers ample protections for the city and county, as well as the A's and Raiders, who share the Coliseum with the Athletics.

Latest from the SFGATE homepage:

Click below for the top news from around the Bay Area and beyond. Sign up for our newsletters to be the first to learn about breaking news and more. Go to 'Sign In' and 'Manage Profile' at the top of the page.